Bit-Carrying Device

ABSTRACT

A bit-carrying device includes an axle and a plurality of sleeves each including a longitudinal through-hole mounted around an outer periphery of the axle. Each sleeve includes at least one coupling portion on an outer circumference thereof for coupling with a bit. A handle is mounted to an upper end of the axle for easy carriage. The longitudinal through-hole of each sleeve includes an inner periphery in frictional contact with the outer periphery of the axle to prevent relative rotation therebetween. Each sleeve can be forcibly turned relative to the axle to a desired position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bit-carrying device and, more particularly, to a bit-carrying device capable of carrying a plurality of bits or the like.

It is well known to engage a bit of a tool with a slot or groove in a head of a screw and to turn the tool for tightening or loosening the screw. Screws have many types of grooves in the head, and the bits of tools have corresponding specifications in cross-sections including rectilinear, cruciform, hexagonal, etc. To avoid troublesome carriage of many tools, a tool of the type having a handle and a bit removably coupled with the handle has been proposed so that the user may carry a single handle and a plurality of bits of various types and/or sizes.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional bit-carrying device 1 including a plurality of sleeves 11 integrally formed with one another at their outer circumferences thereof and a handle 12 formed on one of the outermost sleeves 1. Each sleeve 11 includes two open ends 111 each for receiving a shank of a bit 2 having a diameter substantially the same as an inner diameter of the open end 111. Thus, bits 2 of various types can be tightly mounted in the open ends 111 in two rows. The handle 12 allows easy carriage by a user and has a hanging hole 121 for hanging purposes. However, the number of the sleeves 11 cannot be increased or reduced according to need. Furthermore, intermediate bits 2 of the same row hinder easy removal of adjacent bits 2. Insertion of bits 2 into the open ends 111 is not easy and, thus, risks falling of the bits 2.

It is therefore a need in a bit-carrying device that allows easy removal and mounting of bits from and to the bit-carrying device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves this need and other problems in the field of bit carriage by providing, in a preferred form, a bit-carrying device including an axle and a plurality of sleeves each including a longitudinal through-hole mounted around an outer periphery of the axle. Each sleeve includes at least one coupling portion on an outer circumference thereof for coupling with a bit. A handle is mounted to an upper end of the axle for easy carriage. The longitudinal through-hole of each sleeve includes an inner periphery in frictional contact with the outer periphery of the axle to prevent relative rotation therebetween. Each sleeve can be forcibly turned relative to the axle to a desired position.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrative embodiment may best be described by reference to the accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a conventional bit-carrying device.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of a bit-carrying device according to the preferred teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the bit-carrying device of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the bit-carrying device of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a partial, sectional view of the bit-carrying device of FIG. 3 with a sleeve turned 90°.

FIG. 6 shows a side elevational view of the bit-carrying device of FIG. 3 with the bit-carrying device mounted to a belt of a user.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of two bit-carrying devices of FIG. 3 hung on a hanger rod.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the Figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood.

Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “lower”, “upper”, “end”, “longitudinal”, “axial”, “radial”, “circumferential”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “outward”, and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A bit-carrying device according to the preferred teachings of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 2-7 of the drawings and generally designated 3. The bit-carrying device 3 includes an axle 31 having an upper end 311, a lower end 312, and an outer periphery 313. The axle 31 is made of rigid plastic material and includes an axial hole 314. The outer periphery 313 of the axle 31 is substantially hexagonal in cross section. A flange 315 is formed on the lower end 312 of the axle 31.

A plurality of sleeves 32 are mounted around the axle 31 and stacked one another in a longitudinal direction of the axle 31. Each sleeve 32 includes a longitudinal through-hole 320 allowing it to be mounted around the outer periphery 313 of the axle 31. At least one coupling portion is formed on an outer circumference of each sleeve 32 for mounting tools such as bits, sockets, etc. Forms of the coupling portions include stubs 321 a extending radially outward from the outer circumference of the sleeve 32, horizontal tubes 321 b extending radially outward from the outer circumference of the sleeve 32, and vertically extending tubes 321 b on the outer circumference of the sleeve 32. Coupling portions of other shapes would be within the skill of the art. In the preferred form shown, each sleeve 32 includes two or three coupling portions for coupling with a coupling hole 21 of a bit 2 or a shank 22 of a bit 2. Accordingly, a user may carry a plurality of bits 2 of various types, sizes, and/or specifications. In the most preferred form shown, each sleeve 32 is made of elastomeric material such as rubber. The longitudinal through-hole 320 of each sleeve 32 has a substantially hexagonal inner periphery. The inner periphery of the longitudinal through-hole 320 of sleeve 32 is in frictional contact with the outer periphery of the axle 31 to prevent relative rotation between the sleeve 32 and the axle 31. Nevertheless, the sleeve 32 can be turned with a force sufficient to overcome the friction between the sleeve 32 and the axle 31. Thus, any one of the sleeves 32 can be turned through an angle to a position allowing easy mounting or removal of the bits 2 to and from the sleeve 32 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). Cross sections of the axle 31 and the sleeves 32 of other shapes would be within the skill of the art.

The user may add or remove sleeves 32 to or from the axle 31 in response to the number of bits 2 required. The sleeves 32 stack one another, with the bottommost sleeve 32 resting on the flange 315 on the lower end 312 of the axle 31. A handle 33 is coupled with the upper end 311 of the axle 31 to prevent the sleeves 32 from disengaging from the axle 31. In the preferred form shown, the handle 33 includes a resilient hook 331 on a bottom thereof for releasably coupling with the axial hole 314 in the upper end 311 of the axle 31. The handle 33 includes a resilient clip 332 extending from a side thereof for coupling with a belt 4 of a user (see FIG. 6). The handle 33 further includes a hanging hole 333 allowing the bit-carrying device 3 to be hung on a hanger rod 5 for display or hanging purposes (see FIG. 7). It can be appreciated that other releasable engagement arrangements between the handle 33 and the axle 31 would be within the skill of the art. Furthermore, the handle 33 can be integrally formed with the axle 31 when desired. Furthermore, the axle 31 can be telescopic to allow adjustment of the length.

Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein. 

1. A bit-carrying device comprising: an axle including an outer periphery and upper and lower ends; a plurality of sleeves each including a longitudinal through-hole mounted around the outer periphery of the axle, each of the plurality of sleeves including at least one coupling portion on an outer circumference thereof and adapted for coupling with a bit; and a handle mounted to the upper end of the axle.
 2. The bit-carrying device as claimed in claim 1, with the axle being made of plastic material and including a flange on the lower end thereof.
 3. The bit-carrying device as claimed in claim 1, with each of the plurality of sleeves being made of elastomeric material.
 4. The bit-carrying device as claimed in claim 1, with the longitudinal through-hole of each of the plurality of sleeves including an inner periphery in frictional contact with the outer periphery of the axle to prevent relative rotation therebetween, and with each of the plurality of sleeves being forcibly turnable relative to the axle.
 5. The bit-carrying device as claimed in claim 4, with the outer periphery of the axle and the inner periphery of the longitudinal through-hole of each of the plurality of sleeves being hexagonal in cross section.
 6. The bit-carrying device as claimed in claim 1, with said at least one coupling portion being a stub extending radially outward from the outer periphery of the sleeve.
 7. The bit-carrying device as claimed in claim 1, with said at least one coupling portion being a tube extending horizontally or vertically from the outer periphery of the sleeve.
 8. The bit-carrying device as claimed in claim 1, with the handle including a resilient clip adapted for coupling with a belt of a user.
 9. The bit-carrying device as claimed in claim 1, with the upper end of the axle including an axial hole, and with the handle including a resilient hook releasably coupled with the axial hole.
 10. The bit-carrying device as claimed in claim 1, with the handle including a hanging hole. 